Know the Flooding Source Before Cleaning Up

6/12/2022 (Permalink)

Water damage in a laundry room in Brentwood, CA.

If your home in Brentwood, CA, experiences flooding, you know how vital it is to extract water, dry out the affected areas and clean it up to avoid major flood damage. As essential as that is, it’s also important to know what kind of water you are dealing with before starting the process.

Water Damage Categories

The IICRC has a water loss classification system that is determined by the originating water source and potential materials in it.

Category 1: Considered clean, it is safe for humans and animals. It may be caused by a supply line break or an overflowing bathtub. While not harmful, any standing clean water that is not addressed may evolve into the second category.
Category 2: Known as grey water, it may have biological or chemical contaminants. Sources often associated with this type of water loss include a leaking dishwasher, water condensation, or toilet overflow with urine and no waste. Although it poses no immediate danger, it also may evolve into the most severe classification.
Category 3: When water comes from flooding, sewage backups, or rising groundwater, it is black water. It is full of potential contaminants that must be addressed with care.

Cleanup Requirements
If the extent of the damage is minimal, clean and grey water issues are typically easy to clean up without worrying about lingering issues. Once the home experiences a black water problem, regardless of size it's best to contact a certified water and mold damage cleanup company. Not only does black water require adhering to safety protocols during the cleanup, but it also has the potential to affect other areas of the home. Along with tearing out porous materials, such as drywall and carpeting, the HVAC system and hard surfaces will need to be properly cleaned and inspected.
Any type of flooding in a home means taking fast action to avoid more issues. Knowing the source of the issue makes it easier to develop a safe plan of action.